Drapery pleater



L. ABRAMS DRAPERY PLEATER June 12, 1956 Filed Jan. '7, 1953 FIG.

su@ R M, E mA N NR R EB o VA T ,T NSM/A I nited States Patent 2,749,977 DRAPERY PLEATR Louis Abrams, Springleid, Mass. Application January 7, 1953, Serial Ns. 330,697

6 Claims. (Cl. 1605-848) This invention relates to supports for hanging draperies and the' like in pleated formation and has for an object to provide a device particularly adapted for use on' a traverse rod for movement along the same in conjunction with a series of like devices in a pull type drape.

An object is to provide a simple efficient and inexpensive clip which may be attached and detached by the unskilled person to form a' pleasing and attractive pleated formation in a drapery, thus eliminating sewing of drapery or curtain material in order to achieve the desired effect.

To this end I provide a strap' or ribbon of resilient sheet metal bent to form a small s'et of closely spaced forwardly projecting fingers. The fingers are each generally U-shaped and provide a' pinch pleat form against the surface of which drapery cloth can be tacked around each finger to give the appearance of a pinch pleat as sewn by hand. The outer ends of the strap are extended rearwardly of the base of the fingers and are held by a retaining base member to secure the cloth against removal from the fingers. The base further has provision for means to attach the same o'n a support such as a traverse rod slide.

Specifcrobjects and advantagesof the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the accompanying description of various forms of the device as exemplified in the attached drawings, in which,

Fig. l is a face View of a pair o f draperies pleated and hung as by a series of devices of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of one side of a traverse rod with slidepieces adapted to receive the pleating clips:

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the traverse rod showing the opposite side thereof;

Fig. 4 is a top plan of one form of clip mounted in position on the rod;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the device of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. 4; l

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 6 of another form of the attaching means for the clip; Y

Fig. 8 is a sectional View on line 8 8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a top plan of a clip device showing a drapery cloth assembled in a clip device with a decorative holder strip secured by the clip against the face of the cloth;

Fig. 10 is a face view on line liti-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing an alternative arrangement for interengaging the two parts of a device; and

Fig. l2 is section on line 12-12 of Fig. ll.

The formation of spaced pinch pleats in 'draperies and curtains to present a tailored effect has long been the work of skilled and professional persons in the trade. Usually the pleats are manually formed and sewn or stitched into place. The drapery thus formed is then mounted by various hanger arrangements from a curtain rod. Hooks are most commonly used and are fastened in place by pinning or sewing to the drapery cloth. Such hooks may then be suspended from the rod by any of several well known methods, A widely used arrangement ice 2 is that known as thevftraverse or pull type rod. The present invention will be described in connection with this type of curtain rod although the new clip device may be otherwise used.

In Fig'. 1 a pair of drapes 1 is shown with spaced pinch pleats 2 formed at the t'op or heading thereof to g'ive the drapery the tailored appearance desired. In Figs. 2 and 3 a traverse rod is shown in which a' channel member 3 supports a plurality of slides, such as shown at 4, adjacent each end of the rod for longitudinal movement therealong. The innermost slide at each end of the rod is a master slide to which is attached a cord for manipulation of the drapery or curtain as is well known to those in the trade. In Fig. 3 a master slide 5 is shown with the cord 6 frictionally held thereto by passing through end openings 7 in a plate 8 o'f the slide the card being looped over a post 9 secured to the plate. The plate is slidably mounted in the channel by a headed rivet "itl in the manner shown by Figs. 6 and 7. As is well known the inner header section of a drape is supported on a master slide 5 and the cord pulled to draw the slides E of each end together toward the center of the rod. The slides 4 at each side are likewise drawn towards the center in spaced relation following the master slide, said slides 4 being fined to the drape at spaced locations along the header section. To part the drapes the master slides are pulied towards opposite ends of the rod and as the slides 4 are successively contacted by movement of the master slide the slides 4 are slidably pushed to each end of the rod. Rollers 11 for operation of the cord 6 are pivotally mounted at the extreme end section as shown by Fig. 3. A bracket mounting 'piece 12 and an anchor plate 13 to which the outer end of the drapery heading may be suitably attached is also shown.

The device of the present invention is adapted to be mounted on the slides 4 or 5, the detail of the slides Vbeing best shown by Figs. 4, 6, and 7. The plate 2 is vertically disposed with rivets 10 attached thereto. An enlarged headed portion 14 of the rivet 10 is received in the channel 3. Slide 5 which is connected to the cord e is provided with a centrally disposed rivet itl. Slides 4 are preferably provided with three rivets as in Figs. 3 and 5 for an increased bearing surface although the central rivet may be dispensed with if desired.

Plate 8 is vertically disposed and provided with an upper horizontally platform portion at 15 which extends to overlie the top of the channel member 3. ln offset position to the plate 8 on the end of the portion 15 is a vertical post 16 on which the pleating clip is adapted to be mounted. As shown, for example in Fig. 6, a second post 17 may be supplied to which the clip may be afiixed as will be later described.

In Fig. 4 the former element of the new clip is shown at 18. lt comprises a fiat band of resilient spring material, as spring steel, formed with a series of bent portions providing forwardly extending fingers as at 19. The end portions of the band at 20 are outwardly urged -by the resilience of the spring metal and are confined under compression by spaced abutments 21 forwardly projecting from opposite ends of a base member 22. Member 22 is preferably also of spring steel with the inturned free ends of the abutments 21 rigidly holding the end sections 20 of the forming member 1S under compression.

The end sections 2t) are yieldable inwardly of the abutinents to secure a drapery cloth therebetween as will be described. Sections 2t) of the member 1e are slidably held to the base member 22 as best shown by Fig. 8. ln Fig. 8 it will be seen that the edges of the base 22 are provided with folded lateral extensions overlying the base to form a guideway to receive end flanges 24 of the pleat forming member. The ends of the guideway are spaced from the ends of the base to permit the slidable inward movement or sections 20 of the pleat former and to retain the two elements together.

As in Fig. 4 the inner sides of the central finger 19 are spaced sufliciently to permit the insertion of post 16 of slide 4 therebetween and the mounting of the clip device on the slide.

1n mounting the cloth on a clip the header section of the drapery (where the pleat is desired) is placed against the outer face of the clip and the cloth material tucked between the fingers 19 and over the abutments. At each end of the device the cloth is folded and inserted between an outside finger section at 2i) and an abutment 21 by pressing the section 20 inwardly. When released the latter will pinch the folded cloth against the abutment and securely hold the same in place.

As will also be realized the drapery material tucked between the adjacent fingers 19 will be held against removal by the close spacing of the lingers. In addition the insertion of a post 16 serves to prevent slippage of the fabric and insures a substantial frictional grip on the drape lf preferred, as shown by the modification of Figs. 9 and 10, a holder band 25 may be used to assist a secure grip on the fabric in the assembly. Preferably as shown (Fig. l) the holder member is of a reduced width. It is adapted to overlie the outside face of the drapery fabric as formed and is generally in the shape of the former element 18 with the ends of the holder 25 extending to lie inwardly adjacent the abutments 21. The ends 26 of the holder may also be edged or rolled for insurance against removal from the inturned free ends of the abutments. The holder is applied by pushing the same over the pleats of the fabric against the element 1S and tucking each end under the adjacent abutment 21.

lt will be seen that various modifications of the structure thus far described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. ln Fig. 7 there is shown another means of attachment to the slide. The base member 22 is provided with a strip 27 struck from the central portion thereof and offset rearwardly to form a slot .for receiving the flat post 9 which is forwardly bent at 2S to overlie the channel 3. In this arrangement thc post 16 previously described may be omitted. The lower edge of the forming member 18 rests on the platform of the section 15.

Fig. 9 illustrates a modification of the central finger 19 which is formed to embrace the post in the forward portion thereof as shown. The fiat post member 9 may also be utilized to mount the clip thereon.

In Figs. 11 and 12 an alternative arrangcrnent for securing the base member and pleating element is shown with the free end portions 30 of the pleating element provided with opposite-ly indented notched portions at 31. The base member 22 is formed with a longitudinal slot 32 through which the ends 30 of the element 18 are passed for engagement of the neck 33 between the notches 32. Thus the ends are slidably held in interlocked position with the base member 22.

What is claimed is:

1. A pleating clip for hanging draperies and the like comprising a base member with forwardly directed abutments at each end thereof and a pleat forming member comprising a band of resilient spring metal bent to form a plurality of closely spaced forwardly projecting generally U-shaped fingers, the opposite end portions of said forming member being divergently directed at the base of said ngers and at the base of said fingers being tensioned against said abutments, each end portion being yieldable inwardly of its adjacent abutment to receive a folded section of fabric to be held therebetween, said base member having longitudinally slotted guideway portions with the free ends of said forming member having tip end sections slidably received in said slotted guideways for limited movement longitudinally of said base.

2. The structure of claim 1 in combination with a strap formed with closely spaced fingers bent in the shape of said pleat forming member and adapted to overlie the fabric held thereby, the tip ends of said strap extending to a position inwardly adjacent the outer edges of said abutments.

3. The structure of claim l in combination with a curtain rod slide support member having means for slidable engagement with a curtain rod and a vertically disposed positioning member in offset relation to said slidably engageable means, said offset member having means to releasably carry said clip with the outer surface of said fingers in vertical planar relation.

4. A support for use with like supports on a curtain rod for hanging draperies and the like in a series of spaced pinch pleats comprising a base member with forwardly directed abutments having the free end edges thereof inwardly directed and a pleat forming strap of stiff resilient material bent to form a plurality of closely spaced forwardly projecting fingers with the opposite end sections of the strap at the base of said fingers engaging said opposite free end edges of the abutments and held therebetween, the free end portions of said strap having flanges lying in fiat planar relation with said base member, said base member having slotted guideways to engage said flanges in slidable relation therewith for limited movement of said strap end sections centrally of the base.

5. A hanger device for pinch pleating draperies and the like comprising a forming strap of resilient spring material bent to form a plurality of forwardly extending fingers and having opposed ends of said strap turned inwardly to provide opposed members lying in a plane rearwardly of the base of said fingers, a rigid base member comprising a metal strap having a longitudinally slotted guideway with the ends thereof spaced from the ends of said base and receiving a free end portion of said opposed members in slidable relation therein, the ends of said base member being forwardly and inwardly bent to form oppositely facing abutments embracing between them the outer sides of said strap member at the base of said fingers, said outer sides being outwardly and divergently pressed against said abutments and movable inwardly under pressure therefrom to permit insertion of a folded drapery cloth between said abutments and the adjacent sides of the strap.

6. A pleating clip for hanging draperies and the like comprising a base member having spaced abutments projecting from each end thereof and a pleat forming member comprising a band of resilient spring material bent to provide divergently directed end portions and therebetween a plurality of forwardly projecting generally U- shaped fingers against the outer surface of which a drapery fabric may be placed, said spaced abutments holding said end portions of the forming member at the base of said fingers strained thereagainst in predetermined spaced relation, said end portions being yieldablc inwardly of the abutments to receive a folded section of cloth between the same, said base member having longitudinally slotted portions adjacent the ends of the base and said end portions of the forming member being provided with means for slidably engaging said slotted portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 1,863,638 Richter Julie 21, 1932 2,337,408 Pickering Dec. 21, 1943 2,498,925 Lind Feb. 28, 1950 2,522,918 Abrams Sept. 19, 1950 2,524,426 Comerford Oct. 3, 

